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Sadly, as a result of his illness, Don passed peacefully away from us on Monday 20th July 2009.
His website will remain here for the time being.
If you have found anything of the slightest interest, please e-mail to d.mayston@btinternet.com
Who I am
I was born at Barham, Suffolk, in 1923. In 1935 I moved to Barnet, Hertfordshire with my parents. I joined the RAF as trainee pilot in 1943, but was remustered to become an Air Gunner. I trained on Lancasters and joined No.149 Squadron at Methwold, Norfolk, in 1945, but the dropping of the atom bomb saved us from going to the Far East. I flew about 300 hours on Lancasters, in both rear and mid-upper turrets, and had the rare privilege of taking the controls of a Lancaster for a short spell. My 12 hours at the controls of a Tiger Moth enabled me to keep it the right way with no trouble.
I returned to Civvy Street in 1947, and trained as a draughtsman with the Fairey Aviation Company, where I worked on the Gannet and Gyrodyne. After 4 years I moved to De Havillands at Hatfield. After 4 years at Hatfield I moved to Protocol Engineering, a firm of Design Consultants, which provided a variety of much more interesting work. I married my wife Sheila in 1957. We had two children who have produced four grandchildren, all boys. Eventually Protocol moved into manufacturing, and I became Technical Director. After experiencing minor heart problems due to stress, I took early retirement in 1980 and we moved to Woodbridge, Suffolk, where I have pursued various hobbies, messing about with boats, restoring classic MGs, model aeroplanes, woodturning, DIY, gardening, painting, photography and the occasional bit of flying.
Why have I bothered to have a web site at all at the age of 85? A heart operation last year has given me a new lease of life, Believing that idleness is not a good idea I started a new project building a model Lancaster for the Suffolk Aviation Group Museum to be established near Ipswich. At least one person has asked to be kept up to date with progress, and sending pictures can be quite time consuming using dialup. A decision to progress to broadband was made, and learning to set up a website will help keep my brain alive. I have also produced some paintings over the years that are gathering dust in my studio, that may be of interest to someone out there. There are also one or two short stories that have never been published that I propose to inflict on a wider audience.
Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group
BAD DAY AT IPSWICH HOSPITAL.
I had a very bad time over Christmas with a bad attack of shingles, fortunately a gathering
of all the family cheered me up no end. However I have been getting increasingly short of breath
since the Autumn, and this culminated in a visit to Ipswich where they drained 4 litres of fluid from
the outside of my starboard lung, which promptly restored the ability to walk again. However, further
investigation diagnosed Mesothelioma, I have undergone radiography and a first dose of chemo, which
I have survived OK. I am pursuing a fairly normal life still, but have accelerated a bit, enjoying a rousing
7 hour yachting trip last Monday. Next target is to get into the air again, and I have one or two options planned.
The prognosis is uncertain, but my target of 90 is probably not reachable. However. I have lead an extremely
interesting life which is far from over. I have lost many of my old friends over the last year and am beginning to feel
like the last of the Mohicans. I have fantastic support from my family, particularly of course my wife Sheila, The Oncology
Unit at Ipswich is superb, I cannot praise the nurses and specialists enough. Remember, I am already 86! So not too
many tears please! I will probably use this space for a sort of blog from now on.
Sales of Don Mayston's War have gone well with many compliments. I am now plodding on with my life after the war,
for the benefit of the family and descendents, entitled Rags To Riches and Back. I am amazed at the stuff I am dredging up,
though my short term memory is terrible. The work on the Hurricane is trickling on.
Don
8th July
Here's an update on my efforts to have a bit of excitement. I have done a bit of gliding in the past, and suddenly had a longing to try it again, So 3 weeks ago we went to Rattlesden Gliding Club, and met up with an excellent crowd of chaps who have made every effort to get me into the air. I am very short of breath now. and after strapping on my parachute they have to bodily lift me and squeeze me into the very compact cockpit of a modern competition glider, I have had tow winch launches and two aero tows, the first aborted when we flew into rain, and the second from sheer lack of decent soaring conditions. Anyway, my instructor David had a great time, whirling round over farmhouses and old airfield dispersal areas staying up as long as possible. Whether they will ever get me up to 3000 feet where I can take over remains to be seen, but I have had a great time so far.
This superb shot was taken by Graham, one of my new friends at Rattlesden.
I also have a cunning plan involving a Cessna and a friend with pilots license, Watch this space!
Don